European Elections

[Hawkeye]

European Elections June 10th


Are you interested? Is there any point in voting? What difference does it make?

Why not try to find out by listening to your local Liberal Democrat MEP, Elspeth Attwooll who is “Speaking up for Scotlandâ€Â

[Surrealist]

You have an interesting use of the word "local".

Elspeth's region is the entire country.

I assume she managed to bag a euro seat after failing to win Maryhill for the liberals back in 97. Surely if she was more interested in her local constituents than her career she would have toughed it out in the same constituency and tried again in 2001......but obviously not.

I remember when Struan Stevenson was going through his "trying to get a seat" phase - then he settled for a euro seat. In some respects I was glad because at least it meant he had to leave the country.

When someone is ambitious enough to not care who or where they represent as long as they get any kind of seat, it makes me respect them less than someone who makes like Bruce, and tries again.

[Cynthia]

Glad to see another political debate and that the Libs are 'coming out' on this board - it makes for a better debate than just pro or anti Labour/SSP....I would say Vote SSP ofcourse in the Euro Elections, as the party that was most actively anti war and involved at grass roots level in helping anti war demos etc - and also the Party that is totally anti-privatisation of public services and for re nationalisation of rail, bus, electricity, gas, telephone, water, housing, etc, for increased taxation of the wealthy (at least up to the level Thatcher taxed the rich at for the first few years of her Government), for a decent minimum wage, for an end to the unfair Council Tax, for abolition of prescription charges, and lots more good policies that reflect ordinary working class people's priorities. But whatever you do don't vote Labour unless you want more of the same - war, privatisation of public services, cuts in public services, increased indirect taxation eg.council tax and less taxation of the very rich, pro-big business agenda...I don't want to criticise my Lib Dem pal but I would say the Lib Dems (or at least their Leadership) were a bit unclear at times whether they were against the war or not (particularly in the first weeks when the Uk troops had been sent out to Iraq and public opinion seemed very unclear) - SSP stayed firm as did the Scottish Greens - despite being shouted at sometimes (still a minority of people) in the streets - it happened to me and others in those first awful weeks however so also was there a tremendous mood of anger from most ordinary members of the public that their anti-war wishes had been ignored by Tony Blair- I'm sure many local Lib Dems remained anti war (as did many local Labour P members) but this was not what came over from their Leader and they are still in a pact with Labour in Scotland remember.....so what has to be given up for that??

One thing for sure, any SSP candidates elected will only take the average skilled workers wage, as do all SSP MSPs, the rest going to the SSP. This makes sure they don't get separated from the rest of us in terms of high pay, living the luxury life of most MEPs, and remoteness from ordinary life and daily grind of living and paying bills of most people here. We don't pay them low pay, like many people earn, because we don't want to exploit them - that would be a bit much in a socialist party! But nor do we believe being an MEP or MSP should be paid more than other workers . Instead we argue that people on a low wage in this country (and internationally) should have their wages raised. The numbers of Millionaires in the UK has hugely increased as the Sunday Times Rich List identified - that includes in Scotland. They don't make the wealth - we do - without us there would be no profits, no products, no services.

For a wee bit more info see article in Socialist Voice below or see our website at: SSP main site http://www.scottishsocialistparty.org
and East Edinburgh & Musselburgh Branch website at
http://www.edinburgh-east-ssp.org

European vision for SSP

"Can you help the SSP win a Euro-parliament seat?
Felicity Garvie, top of the SSP's list, said:
"An SSP MEP can help us make links with pensioners, students and public sector workers, campaigning against war, the persecution of asylum seekers and attacks on workers' terms and conditions.
"The environment is also important and we can help ensure that local communities have a say in conservation matters, rather than having directives imposed on them from above."
The SSP has already forged important links with like-minded organisations via the European Social Forum and was a founding member of the European Anti-Capitalist Left."
Carla

[Cynthia]

Vote Against Privatisation of Public Services and War/s

From Scottish Socialist Voice, paper of the SSP:

"Snore vote on EU constitution could put democracy to sleep"
by Roz Paterson

News that Tony Blair has given the go-ahead to a referendum on the new EU constitution is unlikely to excite many people.
But despite the dull PR, there is a great deal at stake and, says Felicity Garvie, SSP candidate for the forthcoming European elections in June, "the referendum is to be welcomed and I urge everyone to vote against the constitution when they get the opportunity."
She continues:
"The new constitution will pave the way for the privatisation of all public services, from schools to hospitals to air traffic control.
"So if you're anti-privatisation, you're anti-this constitution."

Another issue is the status of small nations, such as Scotland and the Basque country."We will have less control over our own affairs, and less chance of achieving independence from the British and Spanish states respectively; states which currently thwart our demands for cultural and political rights.
"The constitution also commits us to NATO, committing us in turn to the nuclear weapons programme - which, as socialists, we're very much opposed to."Interestingly, the SNP - who always ensure their flags are prominently displayed at the front of anti-war and anti-Trident demos - are now mooting the possibility of remaining within NATO, citing Norway as an example of a nation that is anti-nuclear but not anti-NATO.
Problem with Norway is that, though it has no Trident subs clogging up its fjords, its non-nuke status doesn't prohibit it from participating in allied defence planning where nuclear weapons are involved.
Making it about as defiantly anti-nuclear as Switzerland was defiantly neutral during the second world war.
"That the SNP are even considering this will appall all its supporters who are opposed to Trident. The Norway example is not an argument that stands up to scrutiny."

Felicity believes the referendum is a tactical ploy, intended to make Blair appear more responsive to public opinion than he did over Iraq.
However, the new constitution is very much up his street, in its pro-big business, free market agenda.

That, and its antipathy to refugees.
The EU constitution will reinforce the gates of Fortress Europe by instigating more inflexible bureaucratic procedures, "making it very hard for people fleeing war and persecution to find a safe haven in Europe.
"As humanitarians and socialists, we abhor this xenophobic, racist stance. We stand for an open-arms policy; it should be easier, not harder, for people to settle in countries where they feel safe." "

www.scottishsocialistparty.org

[Cynthia]

Use your vote as a vote against another war for oil, to end the occupation of Iraq, against political support for the big business agenda, fat cat salaries for MEPs (SSP MEPs, like our MSPs, will only take the average wage of a skilled worker £25,000 before tax ) etc - see why you should vote in the Euro election - visit the SSP's website and click on the Euro Election manifesto (only a page but full of good policies) and read about the SSP's policy re Council Tax, support for the Nursery Nurses strike, and some good pictures of Felicity Garvie, top of SSP list of Euro candidates, Tommy and others on recent marches, etc - how can you resist?!
http://www.scottishsocialistparty.org/

[Epykat]

[Surrealist]

[Surrealist]

[Surrealist]

[Cynthia]

Politics is not all about voting - in fact I think maybe that's what you are saying? how about some good political debate - from a socialist point of view ofcourse - come to one of the following and I can guarantee a good socialist speaker and discussion:

Monday 31 May 7.30 p.m..
Marxist Forum with Iain Feguson

War, Imperialism & Resistance

Monday 31 May 7.30 p.m..Friends Meeting House,
7 Victoria Terrace (off George 1V Bridge)
Open to all members and supporters of the SSP
Bookstall at meeting


Monday June 7th 7:30 pm
SSP Euro Election Rally with Tommy Sheridan
Assembly Rooms, George Street.

Come and hear Tommy speak with his new not so shouty voice (on Doc's orders) and his old socialist values!

Carla

[Epykat]

[Guest]

[Epykat]

[Surrealist]

...in your opinion perhaps, but not according to the Scotsman ---->



Seriously though, Epykat, party politics aside I've watched Carolyn over the years and have seen her speak a few times and this wasn't the impression I got. She is a midwife for starters, which is not for the faint hearted - and led a successful strike against low pay for a group of NHS workers in the employ of some faceless multinational or other.

Never mind your thoughts on whether privatisation is good or bad (duh !!!) or whether solidarity in the face of low pay is good or bad (er......) to be able to lead a strike like that takes strength that not everyone has.

You're welcome to call her a sidekick of Tommy. It makes me smile because I've seen her talk at a few conferences and if I were to choose a sidekick I think I'd choose someone who would do as they were told and owed their allegiance to me.

So what were you basing your analysis on?

[Cynthia]

[Cynthia]

If you would like to help the SSP Campaign for a seat (or maybe more!) in the Euro Election, and vote against war, privatisation and a bankers and fat cats Europe, please get in touch - an easy way to do this is to come along to the SSP Shop in Porty High Street - the old Discount Carpet Shop/S Power shop - its hard to miss as it has a giant red star on the boarded up bit!! We will definitely be there at the following times but will be leaving sharpish to go leafletting - Tuesdays and Thursday 6.30pm and Sundays 1pm.
For more info, phone Gary Fraser, our Branch Secretary, on 07960 142957
or just turn up and have a chat .....

We need to use this election, if nothing else, as a referendum on the war - the SSP has been consistently anti war - before, during the beginning and now during the occupation (continued war) of Iraq

see the SSP website for more info at www.scottishsocialistparty.org/

We also have our usual stall on Porty High St at 11am - 12.30 each Saturday and on Musselburgh High St 12noon Sats - come and chat to us then.......Carla

[Cynthia]

Gemini has asked me to put this on and urges you all to pressure, sorry write, to your MSPs with these very important concerns and ask them their Party's stand on them, in the run up to the election and vote accordingly: see this website http://www.everyonecan.org/mustdoit.html

This website gives info about major environmental issues and what politicians can do about them. Here's an example to tempt you to look at the website and do something too. Basic steps politicians can take to improve the environment are given eg:

"Clean air
ACT NOW: Reduce road traffic levels 10% by 2010. Tackle air pollution and climate change by redirecting at least two thirds of the £900 million planned for road-building to public transport, walking and cycling.

Why?

Air pollution, mainly from vehicle exhausts, kills more people in Scotland than die in road accidents. Too much traffic divides communities and degrades the environment, in rural as well as urban areas. Less traffic would mean fewer air pollution deaths, less congestion, less climate change, less social exclusion and less wildlife killed. "

Given we are fighting a huge increase in our traffic levels if this crazy super/megastore (4/5ths size of Asda in our little community) plan does get the go ahead (not if we can help it), these issues are very important for us to drum home to our politicians......


Carla

[Cynthia]

3 important events - chance for you to make your views known against the war/occupation of Iraq and ask candidates questions:

Friday 4th June
Edinburgh Stop the War Coalition Euro Election Hustings
Friday 4th June, 7.30pm at the Augustine Church, George 4th Bridge -Speakers invited form all the main parties.

Monday June 7th 7:30 pm
SSP Euro Election Rally with Tommy Sheridan
Assembly Rooms, George Street.


Wednesday June 30th
March and Protest
End the Crime - End the Occupation of Iraq
Iraq for the Iraqis
ASSEMBLE 6.00pm US CONSULATE, REGENT TERRACE (just past Waterloo Place, off Regent Rd) EDINBURGH

[Epykat]

[administrator]

Voting in both the online poll and the actual election is now closed. Early indications are that around 32% bothered to vote at the Town Hall, not bad considering the inclement weather.

Apathy ruled though on the online poll, with just 62 people making the mouse click required. The result was an overwhelming victory for the SSP, with a late surge for the Green Party just edging Labour into third position.

So will this be mirrored in the election results tonight? Unlikely, but the SSP deserve credit for participating in the forum and arguing their case with passion - something sadly lacking in mainstream politics nowadays.

[Surrealist]